Semintra 4mg/ml for Cats 30ml

What is the active ingredient in Semintra?

Telmisartan  is an orally active and specific angiotensin II receptor (type AT1) antagonist which causes a dose dependent decrease in mean arterial blood pressure in mammalian species including the cat. In a clinical trial in cats with chronic kidney disease, a reduction in proteinuria was seen within the first 7 days after the start of treatment.

Telmisartan displaces angiotensin II from its binding site at the AT1 receptor subtype. Telmisartan selectively binds to the AT1 receptor and does not show affinity for other receptors, including AT2 or other less characterised AT receptors. Stimulation of the AT1 receptor is responsible for pathologic effects of angiotensin II in the kidney and other organs associated with angiotensin II such as vasoconstriction, retention of sodium and water, increased aldosterone synthesis and organ remodeling. Effects associated with stimulation of the AT2 receptor such as vasodilatation, natriuresis and inhibition of inappropriate cell growth are not suppressed. The receptor binding is long lasting due to the slow dissociation of telmisartan from the AT1 receptor binding site. Telmisartan does not exhibit any partial agonist activity at the type AT1 receptor.

Hypokalaemia is associated with CKD, however telmisartan does not affect potassium excretion, as shown in the clinical field trial in cats.

How does it work?

Absorption: Following oral administration of 1 mg/kg body weight telmisartan to cats, plasma-concentration-time curves of the parent compound are characterised by rapid absorption, with maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) achieved after 0.5 hours (tmax). For both, Cmax-values, and AUC-values, a dose proportional increase over the dose range from 0.5 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg was observed. As determined by AUC, food consumption does not affect the overall extent of absorption of telmisartan. Telmisartan is highly lipophilic and has rapid membrane permeability kinetics, which facilitates easy distribution into tissue. No significant gender effect was seen. No clinically relevant accumulation was observed following multiple dose administration once daily for 21 days. The absolute bioavailability after oral administration was found to be 33 %.

Distribution: In vitro studies in human, dog, mouse and rat plasma showed a high plasma protein binding (> 99.5 %), mainly to albumin and α-1-acid glycoprotein.

Metabolism: Telmisartan is metabolised by conjugation to the glucuronide of the parent compound. No pharmacological activity has been shown for the conjugate. From in vitro and ex vivo studies with feline liver microsomes it can be concluded that telmisartan is effectively glucuronidated in the cat. The glucuronidation resulted in the formation of the 1-O-acylglucuronide metabolite of telmisartan.

Elimination: The terminal elimination half life (t 1/2) ranged from 7.3 hours to 8.6 hours, with mean value 7.7 hours. After oral administration, telmisartan is almost exclusively excreted in the faeces mainly as unchanged compound.

What is in Semintra?

Clear, colourless to yellowish viscous solution for oral use.

Each ml of product contains:

Active substances:

Telmisartan 4 mg

Excipients:

Benzalkonium chloride 0.1 mg

How do I use Semintra?

Semintra is a prescription product and must be used according to the instructions of your veterinary surgeon.

Please read the product leaflet thoroughly before administering to your pet.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany
55216

Marketing Authorisation Number

EU/2/12/146/001

Is there any further advice I should know about Semintra?

Contra-indications

Do not use during pregnancy or lactation. The safety of Semintra has not been established in breeding, pregnant or lactating cats.

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Special precautions for use in animals

The safety and efficacy of telmisartan has not been tested in cats under the age of 6 months. It is good clinical practice to monitor the blood pressure of cats receiving Semintra which are under anaesthesia.

Due to the mode of action of the veterinary medicinal product, transient hypotension may occur. Symptomatic treatment, e.g. fluid therapy, should be provided in case of any clinical signs of hypotension.

As known from substances acting on the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), a slight decrease in red blood cell count may occur. Red blood cell count should be monitored during therapy.

The following mild and transient gastrointestinal signs have rarely been observed in a clinical study (in order of decreasing frequency): mild and intermittent regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhoea or soft faeces.

Elevated liver enzymes have been very rarely observed and values normalised within a few days following cessation of therapy.

Effects attributable to the pharmacological activity of the product observed at the recommended treatment dose included reductions in blood pressure and decreases in red blood cell counts.

During concomitant therapy with amlodipine at the recommended dose no clinical evidence of hypotension was observed.

No drug-drug interactions are known from the available data in cats with CKD for the use of telmisartan and other medicinal products that interfere with RAAS (such as ARBs or ACEis). The combination of agents targeting the RAAS may alter renal function.

After administration of up to 5 times the recommended dose for 6 months to young adult healthy cats, adverse reactions observed were consistent with those mentioned in section 4.6.

Administration of the product at overdose (3 to 5 times of the recommended dose for 6 months) resulted in marked reductions in blood pressure, decreases in red blood cell count (effects attributable to the pharmacological activity of the product) and increases in Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN). In the event that hypotension does occur, symptomatic treatment, e.g. fluid therapy, should be provided.

In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary products.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the product to animals

In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

Avoid eye contact. In case of accidental eye contact, rinse eyes with water. Wash hands after use.

Pregnant women should take special care to avoid contact with the product because substances acting on the RAAS, such as Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACEi), have been found to affect the unborn child during pregnancy in humans.

People with hypersensitivity to telmisartan or other sartans/ARBs should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.